Author: TECH

                                Case File Because teachers were deemed essential employees for purposes of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, a teacher’s contraction of COVID-19, which led to her death, was work-related and fully compensable. Simply Research subscribers have access to the full text of the case. Case Amato v. Township of Ocean School District, A-31-24 (N.J. 12/11/25) What Happened? At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey’s Office of Emergency Management adopted federal essential worker guidelines, which covered teachers. Additionally, the state’s health department promulgated…

Two researchers at Johns Hopkins University recently invited a special guest to a pretend tea party: a 43-year-old bonobo named Kanzi. Bonobos are close relatives of humans, similar to chimpanzees, but with slender, longer limbs. For decades, their population in the Democratic Republic of Congo — the only place they are found in the wild — has been on the decline due to habitat loss and poaching.Like other primates, bonobos are also highly intelligent. At times, they have been seen engaging in various levels of play, moving “imaginary” blocks after playing with wooden blocks, or carrying sticks as though a mother…

                                ReEmployAbility, the nation’s largest provider of specialty return-to-work services, has partnered with Crosstie (formerly Gain Life) to deliver an enhanced digital experience that streamlines communication, improves coordination, and empowers injured workers through their recovery journey. Through this partnership, ReEmployAbility has launched the new Injured Worker Portal, powered by Crosstie’s proven claims-experience technology. The platform provides real time access to program information, simplifies communication, and reduces uncertainty by giving injured workers clear visibility into their Transition2Work® experience. By making information easier to access and support…

UB has received an $8,000 SUNY Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Grant to provide faculty, staff, students and community members with the tools and resources necessary to support students in mental health crises.The funding will support creation and expansion of campus MHFA programming, including instructor certification, delivery of campuswide training, required materials and outreach efforts to strengthen mental health literacy. The training emphasizes early recognition, supportive response and connection to professional help.“The grants provided through this innovative program will help ensure more SUNY staff and personnel are trained to recognize and address mental health concerns and to support students in…

For many women in the U.S. and around the world, motherhood comes with career costs.Raising children tends to lead to lower wages and fewer work hours for mothers — but not fathers — in the United States and around the world.As a sociologist, I study how family relationships can shape your economic circumstances. In the past, I’ve studied how motherhood tends to depress women’s wages, something social scientists call the “motherhood penalty.”I wondered: Can government programs that provide financial support to parents offset the motherhood penalty in earnings?‍A ‘motherhood penalty’I set out with Therese Christensen, a Danish sociologist, to answer…

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Feb. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Inland Empire Health Plan’s (IEHP) “Start the Conversation” mental health awareness campaign earned the Best in the West award at the 2026 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Western District Conference on Feb. 4. Inland Empire Health Plan’s Marketing and Communications Team earns the Best in the West award at the 2026 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Western District Conference on Feb. 4. The Best in the West title recognizes the creative communication efforts of PRSA members from 11 different chapters across five states and is voted on by an independent…

Rising levels of staff sickness at a community NHS trust in Shropshire are causing concern to leaders, with conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression being named as the main issue behind it.Sickness absences across the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (Shropcom) have increased every month for almost a year – the most recent figures show 5.7% of the workforce is off with long or short-term issues.The trust has a target to have no more than 4.75% of its workforce off sick.Shropcom’s board told a meeting on Thursday that it had had to draft in “slightly” more agency and bank…

– credit, Iconic Media, via SWNS A long-lost sport once feared dead is being dusted off and played again in the villages where it was born. “Knurr-and-spell” was once played widely in pubs across England’s South Yorkshire, but had all but vanished by the 1970s. The quirky ball game which bears a similarity to golf  sees players hit a clay ball with a specially fashioned stick. The winner is the person who can hit the ball—called the knurr or “pottie”—the farthest. The knurr sits on a stressed iron rod, which is triggered like a catapult by a quick tap of…

Western suburbs parents caring for children with autism are banding together to demand more education support and inclusion for families living with disabilities.

One of the greatest sources for inspiration and hope, is of course the Bible. I say “one of,” but its really the greatest source for teachings and lessons that uplift and fortify us. The Beatitudes is one of my favorites.   Jesus preached an absolutely beautiful life lesson and guide in His Sermon on the Mount. Spoken bmy Jesus over 2,000 years ago, the meaning of His words are beyond measure and are as vitally relevant today as they were then – perhaps even more so. This particular sermon put a strong emphasis on kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and faith. It…